Nick Kyrgios went down to world No. 2, Daniil Medvedev, in four sets 7-6 (7-1), 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 during their second round clash at the Australian Open on Thursday night.
There were moments of magic from Kyrgios — like a ridiculous reaction volley that sent him running away for half a lap of honour — but Medvedev was simply too good for too long.
Medvedev blasted 68 winners, including 31 aces, compared to Kyrgios’ 47 winners and 17 aces, respectively.
Always putting on a show. Take a bow, @NickKyrgios 🤯
Despite this tough result in the second round of his home slam, Kyrgios said he was “incredibly proud” of his performance against the man many expect to hold the trophy aloft now Novak Djokovic is out of contention.
“I gave it everything, I put on a good performance. I think he’s going to be favoured to win the Australian Open. I can’t be too upset,” Kyrgios said after the match.
For his part, Medvedev said he came to “win the match” and he was “happy” he managed to do it.
Kyrgios tried his best — and produced some stunning tennis in the process, but it wasn’t enough. Photo: Getty Images.
“It was a fighting match, we both served big,” Medvedev added. “These matches can get tight.”
Kyrgios is now scheduled to play singles at next month’s Dallas Open. But first, the men’s doubles competition continues today for Kyrgios and countryman Thanasi Kokkinakis, as the wildcard pairing meet top seeds Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic.
Medvedev will take on world No. 57 Botic van de Zandschulp in the third round of the Australian Open.
Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, held a virtual meeting on Thursday with all the heads of the Greek Embassies and Permanent Representatives abroad, including the Ambassador of Greece in Australia, George Papacostas.
This is the first time Mitsotakis has held this meeting and it was aimed at “the coordination of the government with the heads of the diplomatic authorities for the better promotion of national goals and positions.”
According to a statement from the PM’s office, Mitsotakis “intends to establish this communication at the highest level on an annual basis.”
Είχα τη χαρά να συνομιλήσω με τους επικεφαλής των Πρεσβειών και των Μονίμων Αντιπροσωπειών της Ελλάδας στο εξωτερικό και να ακούσω την οπτική τους από τις αποστολές όπου υπηρετούν. Πρόθεσή μου είναι η επικοινωνία αυτή να καθιερωθεί σε ετήσια βάση. https://t.co/isdJF7JvdMpic.twitter.com/RaKwonxrsH
During the teleconference, Mitsotakis presented the main priorities and challenges of foreign policy and Greek diplomacy for 2022, emphasising Greece’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and mandatory vaccinations, as well as focusing on Greek-Turkish relations and recent tripartite partnerships.
“The age of introversion, the age of misery, has passed irrevocably. Greece of 2022 is not the Greece of 2012. It is in a position where it must claim its role in the international arena,” Mitsotakis told those in virtual attendance.
Στην τηλεδιάσκεψη στο Μέγαρο Μαξίμου, υπό τον @PrimeministerGR, με τους Πρέσβεις και τους Επικεφαλής των μονίμων αντιπροσωπειών της Ελλάδας στο εξωτερικό. pic.twitter.com/giLfh6LuqO
The Prime Minister also encouraged the diplomats to highlight Greece’s advantages to the diaspora abroad, as a means of strengthening the export orientation of Greek companies and attracting quality investments.
This was followed by a small speech from the Greek Foreign Minister, Nikos Dendias, who discussed the Strategic Plan of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for 2022-2026.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the heads of the Greek Embassies had the opportunity to present their views from their respective countries.
Greek Defence Minister, Nikos Panagiotopoulos, met with his Israeli counterpart, Benny Gantz, on Thursday at the Israeli Ministry of Defence.
During a joint statement after the meeting, Gantz stressed the continued co-operation of the two Eastern Mediterranean countries based on “common interests and values.”
“There is a great potential for expanding Israel’s cooperation with its old and new friends in the fields of energy, innovation, and security,” the Israeli Defence Minister said.
It was a pleasure to host my friend and counterpart, Greek Minister of National Defense @npanagioto at the MoD. In our discussions I emphasized that Greece is a strong regional partner and Israel values our important ties. pic.twitter.com/tOuzPmiLZV
“We will continue to act in this spirit and strengthen the tripartite framework between Israel, Greece, and Cyprus.”
For his part, the Greek Defence Minister added that the close ties between Israel and Greece are based on a number of shared strategic interests and a “common vision… to create a stable, secure, and prosperous environment in the wider Eastern Mediterranean region.”
“Our common goal is to expand and deepen the defence cooperation between Greece and Israel, which has reached an extremely high level in recent years, let me say, of unprecedented development that can be assessed in tangible terms,” Panagiotopoulos said.
The Greek Defence Minister is currently on an official visit to Tel Aviv, where he had successive meetings with his Israeli counterpart and the Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III.
Turkish Foreign Minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu, launched direct threats against Greece and Cyprus on Thursday, accusing the two countries of sponsoring Gulenists (FETO) or PKK terrorists by allowing them to remain in their countries.
Citing reports in the Turkish media, Cavusoglu said that Cyprus had given permission to the Syrian Kurdish PYD party to open a representative office in its capital of Nicosia. Ankara regards the PYD group as terrorists, citing their links to the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).
“They should not play with fire,” Cavusoglu warned Cyprus at a press conference.
Turkish Foreign Minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu.
Later, the Turkish Foreign Minister also accused Greece of providing shelter to members of the PKK and the outlawed Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party-Front (DHKP-C), a Marxist organisation.
He also criticized the country of supporting the FETO movement around US-based Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen, which has been accused of orchestrating the 2016 coup against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
“FETO Gulenists see Greece not only as a transit country but also as a place to settle as refugees. Greece is playing with fire by hosting them,” he concluded.
“I want to say this: they allow them to have delegations there. For this purpose, if there is an attack from their side towards us, they will pay a heavy price.”
Athens has denied similar allegations in the past.
Stefanos Tsitsipas has closed out his game against Sebastian Baez at the Australian Open, claiming a 7-6, 6-7, 6-3, 6-4 win.
Tsitsipas hit 12 aces to five, but had to work for his win. He had 18 break-point chances but only took four, really taking until the third set to hit his straps.
This year, 2022 heralds three years since the Greek Museum of Adelaide, South Australia, a non-profit organization, was founded in 2019. The Museum, as a cultural institution, embraces all aspects of Hellenism in Australia. During these three years, the Museum has organized and presented seven exhibitions for the Australian public to enjoy. The exhibitions featured works by both Greek and Greek-Australian artists, collections of traditional objects, costumes, books and historical pieces from Greek-Australian immigrants.
The Greek Museum of Adelaide is an institution that promotes Greek culture and history through cultural activities (such as lectures, film nights and so on) and exhibitions. The state government, community leaders, Greek-Australians and other Australians, including the Hellenism of Greece, has recognized the substantial and practical contribution of the Museum, in the cultural life of the Greek diaspora.
At present, the Greek Museum of Adelaide does not have its own permanent building, nor a stable or permanent base from which to operate, thus exhibitions are not open to the public daily. Currently, it is presenting exhibitions from a temporary rental solution. Clearly, this temporary exhibition space solution cannot and does not cover all the needs of a proper functioning Museum.
Due to the lack of financial resources and sponsorships, the Museum’s Committee cannot enter into the purchase nor a leasing of a more appropriate permanent property. However, there is a possible solution for the Museum’s current problem and that is through the support of already established Greek associations based in Australia.
An appeal is made to those Greek associations that have very few members and therefore cannot offer many activities. The call is this: if it is likely that the association will cease to operate in the near future, we respectfully ask the association to seriously consider granting the association’s building to the Greek Museum Adelaide. Clearly, you would have our undying gratitude.
Fellow Greek associations of Adelaide, we trust that this request is reasonable. It has come to our attention that currently several Greek associations are under-operating and that some associations have transferred their buildings to the state government. Within the next five years, several associations may be confronted with this dilemma of what to do or where to allocate their property. The Greek Museum Adelaide is therefore making a request that you help our museum as real Greeks and Philhellenes.
We ask you this question: is it not better for a building to be bequeathed and found again in Greek hands, the hands of the Greek Museum Adelaide rather than in the hands of the state, which has its own means? The Greek Museum could continue to present and promote our Hellenism and to recognize and continue the contribution of the donor association.
Why should Greeks not support such an important Greek effort, especially now that our Hellenism has more than ever a need for promotion and recognition?
One more building to the Australian state makes little difference, but for the Greek Museum of Adelaide it would mean a necessary and substantial act of support.
We ask and appeal to all Greek associations to consider this call for the concession of a building.
Please contact us for clarifications and or discussion. The Council of the Greek Adelaide Museum Inc. is always open for any communication with you.
Respectfully and with appreciation,
President Chrysoula Melissinaki
You can get in contact with the Greek Museum on (0061) 0457456339 or visit http://greek-museum.com.au, https://www.facebook.com/GreekMuseumAdelaide
Peter Conistis is one of the most popular Greek Australian chefs going around. And now, he’s opened his new restaurant, Ploos, at The Rocks in Sydney.
According to Good Food, Ploos, the Greek word for sails, squeezes into Campbell’s Stores, the redeveloped dining strip beside Quay restaurant. There’s an alfresco bar and dining area with deep white lounges.
Conistis, who is well known for his scallop and taramasalata moussaka, has also drilled down on southern Mediterranean food at Ploos.
Ploos restaurant.
The chef pairs zucchini fritters with eggplant hummus, blackened chickpeas and molasses, and has a “salty-sweet” halloumi tart on the menu with rock lobster and grilled leeks.
“It’ll be my interpretation of Crete and Cypriot food,” Conistis told Good Foodlast year.
Conistis studied communications at university but eventually decided he wanted to become a chef to supply customers with good Greek food.
In 1993, Conistis took a brave step and opened his first Greek restaurant, Cosmos, in East Sydney.
Abrolhos octopus, carob glaze, taramasalata and pickled caper shoots at Ploos. Photo: Jude Cohen.
Cosmos became a hit, receiving a Chef’s Hat in the 1994 Sydney Morning Herald Food Guide within three months. It became the first Greek restaurant to receive a hat, as well as the first Greek restaurant to be included in the guide.
Conistis later opened his second restaurant, Omega, followed by Alpha, which is owned by the Hellenic Club.
His latest endeavour, Ploos, is open for lunch and dinner Wednesday to Sunday. You can find the restaurant at: Bay 7, 7-27 Circular Quay W, The Rocks.
Food critic, Simon Wilkinson, has named the top 15 restaurants in South Australia for 2021 and listed at number two is ‘eleven’ restaurant, which is co-owned by Callum Hann and Themis Chryssidis.
It’s no surprise their restaurant is on the list as Chryssidis brings his dietician expertise to the table, whilst Hann was a runner-up in the 2010 series of MasterChef Australia. Together, they have both also authored the cookbook Quick. Easy. Healthy.
Chryssidis and Hann. Photo: Johnny von Einem.
In his review, Wilkinson says that although it takes a while to ‘get your bearings’ in the restaurant, which is located on Waymouth St, once you get comfortable the atmosphere is addictive.
“The room is dark and handsome, with a cohesive mix of polished timber, marble, glass and other tactile materials in black, copper and deep green,” the food critic writes.
Later, he goes on to detail the ‘inspired’ cooking by Head Chef Dan Murphy, who has been a mate of Hann’s since they were teens in the Barossa Valley and helped him land his first restaurant job.
Eleven restaurant. Photo: Morgan Sette.
“The contemporary French cooking is realised most often as the hero ingredients arranged on a plate with a sauce added at the table,” he says.
“The magic here is the extraordinary, seductive flavours to be found in liquids with the consistency of your morning tea or coffee.”
I mean… how can you resist that? It looks like Chryssidis and Hann are definitely onto a sure thing in SA!
Liquidators are pressing ahead with the sale of alleged fraudster Bill Papas’ luxury holiday home on the NSW Central Coast, The Sydney Morning Herald reports.
The Hamptons-style home in Wagstaffe is expected to set a record for the region, with agents at Central Coast Belle Property putting a $12 million to $15 million price tag on the waterfront property.
It wouldn’t be the first time the property has set a record for the Central Coast – it made history when it sold to Papas for $9.5 million in 2020.
This comes just days after Papas’ Rozelle home sold for $4.4 million by agents from CobdenHayson Balmain, acting on behalf of liquidators from McGrathNicol.
Mr Papas’ other holiday home on Bulkara Street in Wagstaffe is also expected to hit the market in coming weeks with a $9 million price tag.
The majority of Papas’ Forum empire was placed into liquidation last year amid allegations in a civil proceeding brought by Westpac and two other lenders, Sumitomo and Société Générale, that Papas had presided over a $500 million fraud on the business.
Arthur Bozikas has beta-thalassemia major, a rare genetic disorder that reduces the body’s ability to produce enough healthy red blood cells.
Although the 60-year-old was told he wouldn’t live to experience adulthood, medical discoveries and over 700 blood transfusions since birth have seen him live a fulfilling life.
But as COVID-19 cases continue to rise across Australia, the number of blood donations continues to drop, jeopardising the lives of people like Mr Bozikas.
“Car accidents are not going to stop, cancer is not going to stop, patients like myself are going to continue needing blood,” Mr Bozikas told ABC News.
According to the national broadcaster, only half the people making appointments end up giving blood and more than 4,500 appointments are not being filled every day.
In response, the Australian Red Cross are changing the rules to allow blood donations sooner after having COVID-19.
Until now, people who’ve had the virus had to wait until they were fully recovered plus another 28 days before giving blood.
But from Sunday, once you’re better you’ll just need to wait seven days before booking an appointment.
Iain Gosbell, who is the Director of Donor and Blood Safety at Australian Red Cross Lifeblood, said this decision was a ‘safe’ one and he’s hoping more people will now consider helping others.
